Books like Welcome to St. Hell

A funny, tender, and unflinchingly honest look back at the messy, awkward crucible of growing up trans in a small town. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Welcome to St. Hell.

nostalgic
awkward
warm
hopeful

01
Gender Queer
Maia Kobabe
A deeply vulnerable, beautifully illustrated journey through the messy, confusing, and ultimately joyful process of finding the right words for who you are.
Shares:
- candid
- earnest
- navigating gender dysphoria
02
How to Be Ace
Rebecca Burgess
A candid, deeply validating graphic memoir about the messy, anxious, and ultimately joyful journey of figuring out who you aren't, so you can embrace who you are.
Shares:
- hopeful
- candid
- earnest
03
Tomboy
Liz Prince
A funny, heartfelt exploration of the messy middle ground between boyhood and girlhood, fueled by punk rock and adolescent angst.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- humorous
04
Times I Knew I Was Gay
Eleanor Crewes
A gentle, funny, and deeply relatable exploration of the messy, non-linear journey to figuring out you're queer.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- awkward
- hopeful
- wry
05
Trans like me
C. N. Lester
A thoughtful, deeply personal exploration of gender identity that invites readers to look beyond limiting labels toward true authenticity.
Shares:
- earnest
06
Beyond Magenta
Susan Kuklin
An intimate, unfiltered window into the lived realities of transgender youth, told in their own words.
Shares:
- hopeful
- candid
- earnest
07
Gender outlaw
Kate Bornstein · 1994
A playful, mind-altering manifesto that invites you to completely dismantle everything you thought you knew about gender.
Shares:
- wry
- earnest
08
The Transgender Issue
Shon Faye
A clear-eyed, rigorously argued dismantling of culture-war noise that builds toward a radical vision of collective liberation.
Feels:
- sobering
- righteous
- galvanizing
09
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes
A sharp, melancholy portrait of the exact moment a childhood friendship begins to dissolve into the ether of adulthood.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- wry
10
The Art of Being Normal
Lisa Williamson
A tender, big-hearted exploration of friendship, secrets, and the terrifying thrill of finally showing the world who you really are.
Shares:
- hopeful
- candid
- earnest
11
Messy Roots
Laura Gao
A visually engaging, heartfelt journey through the intersections of queer identity and the Chinese-American immigrant experience.
Shares:
- candid
- earnest
12
All out
Saundra Mitchell
A sweeping, celebratory mosaic of hidden histories that reclaims the past for queer youth.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- hopeful
- earnest

Back to Welcome to St. Hell